INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the Region 7 Mark of Excellence Awards winners for the 2008 calendar year. SPJ Region 7 includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.This year, collegiate journalists submitted more than 3,700 entries in 39 categories across SPJ’s 12 regions.

The honorees were recognized on April 25 during the regional spring conference held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel-Clayton in St. Louis, Missouri. First place regional winners advance to the national round of judging, which is ongoing. National winners will be announced in mid-May.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

General News Reporting• First Place: Kim Norvell, Iowa State University, “Amethyst initiative shines light on age issues”• Second Place: Haley Jones, University of Kansas, “Adderall addiction?”• Third Place: Alex Parker, University of Kansas, “Recovery effort for canoeist continues”

In-Depth Reporting• First Place: Brenna Hawley, University of Kansas, “Parched future of the plains”• Second Place: Ryan McGeeney, University of Kansas, “Ghost world” • Third Place: Rashah McChesney, Iowa State University, “FDA requires coffee shop to keep water on”

Feature Writing• First Place: Thor Nystrom, University of Kansas, “To Hell and Back” • Second Place: Molly Hottle, Grand View University, “Girl takes one more step in a quest to regain vision”• Third Place: Andrew Astleford, University of Missouri, Columbia, “A pitcher's dual dreams of delivering at sea, on hill”

Sports Writing• First Place: Thor Nystrom, University of Kansas, “Both sides of the scalp” • Second Place: David Ubben, University of Missouri, Columbia, “A special kind of respect”• Third Place: Andrew Astleford, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Seeking relief, McHale’s life took a fatal turn”

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (published at least 4 times per week)• First Place: Staff, Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University • Second Place: Staff, University Daily Kansan, University of Kansas• Third Place: no award

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (published less than 4 times per week)• First Place: Staff, Index, Truman State University• Second Place: Staff, Creightonian, Creighton University• Third Place: Staff, The Baker Orange, Baker University

Radio News Reporting• First Place: Robby Berlin, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Fulton treatment facility”• Second Place: Bonnie Thomas, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Grant school”• Third Place: Sean Powers, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Iraq War protest”

Radio Feature• First Place: Kyle Stokes, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Lincoln School memories”• Second Place: Sean Powers, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Coyote Hill”• Third Place: Austin Coates, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Ghost!”

Radio In-Depth Reporting• First Place: Catherine Wolf, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Energy Matters: Living Green”• Second Place: Sean Powers, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Immigration and health”• Third Place: no award

Radio Sports Reporting• First Place: Alex Swoyer, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Conrad stands out”• Second Place: no awards• Third Place: no awards

Television General News Reporting• First Place: Dhomonique Ricks, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Teen gun violence”• Second Place: no award• Third Place: no award

Television Feature• First Place: Dhomonique Ricks, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Mr. Taco Bell”• Second Place: Mike Brannen, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Monica Hudson”• Third Place: Wendy McCart, University of Kansas, “Natural pet foods”

Television In-Depth Reporting• First Place: Wendy McCart, University of Kansas, “Voter registration”• Second Place: Dhomonique Ricks, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Missouri Roads”• Third Place: no award

Television Sports Reporting• First Place: Mike Brannen, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Carlos Ivory” • Second Place: Kevin Gehl, University of Missouri, Columbia, “The Phantom Dutchman”• Third Place: no award

Television News Photography• First Place: Mike Brannen, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Holiday Holdup” • Second Place: Kevin Gehl, University of Missouri, Columbia, “St. Charles levee break”• Third Place: no award

Television Feature Photography• First Place: Mike Brannen & Phil Rapisardo, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Monica Hudson”• Second Place: no award• Third Place: no award

Television Sports Photography• First Place: Mike Brannen, University of Missouri, Columbia, “Fast Food”• Second Place: no award• Third Place: no award

Online In-Depth Reporting• First Place: Alex Parker, University of Kansas, “Readying for war”• Second Place: Emily Keats, Iowa State University, “Harvesting haven to land of flooded fields”• Third Place: no award

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information on SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.